Depositing apparatus



Aug. 1, 1944. E. CLARK DEPOSITING APPARATUS 3 sheets sheet- 1.

Filed April 9, 1943 DEPOS ITING APPARATUS Filed April 9; 1945 :5 Shets-Sheet z 'llfibzesa A A I i l 1944- E. CLARK 2,354,796

' DEPOSITING APPARATUS Filed April 9, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 MKW WM/ Patented Aug. 1, 1944 DEPOSITING APPARATUS Ernest Clark, Brockton, Mass., assignor to Abington TextileMachinery Works,Boston, Mass, a

trust of Massachusetts Application April 9, 1943, Serial No. 482,392 3 Claims. (01. 19-75) The present invention relates to depositing apparatus, and more particularly apparatusfor depositing strippings of cotton or other fibers pneumatically stripped from the cylinders of a carding machine.

The air-home fibers removed by the pneumatic strippin apparatus have considerable value if they are separated from the air in a manner to make them available for reuse. Separators operating on the centrifugal or cyclone principle are unsatisfactory, because they twist and mat the fibers into a form unsuitable for reuse. Any device depending on the use of mechanical scrapers or agitators has been found undesirable for the same reason.

It is the object of the present invention to provide simple and effective means for depositing the fibers from the air current in a manner to maintain the fibers in loose, unmatted, usable condition.

With this and other objects in view, the invention comprises movable condensers, preferably in the form of cylinders, through which the air passes and on which the fibers are deposited in a loose condition. The fibers are carried by the condensers to a point of discharge where they may be compressed by the joint action of the condensers. Thereafter the fibers are discharged through a lock, preferably of rotary form, into the atmosphere. Certain features of construction hereinafter to be described in detail also constitute features of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation of a depositing system, embodying the features of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the system including the separating chamber; Fig. 3 is a sectional end elevation of the separating chamber; Fig. 4 is asectional elevation of the chamber on line 4-4 of Fig. .1; and Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of the vanes.

The system shown in Fig. 1 comprises a duct 8 leading from pneumatic stripping apparatus of carding machines to a chamber Ill to be described later in detail. Outlet casings l2 and I4 connect with the ends of the chamber In and are themselves connected together and with an outlet duct l6 leading through a suitablev filter to the suction apparatus. In operation, the air-borne fibers resulting from the stripping operation are passed through the duct 8 into the chamber l0, wherein the fibers are separated from the air. The air continues through the outlet duct 16 and filter I8. As shown in Fig. 1, the separator may be conveniently suspended from the ceiling by supports 20. g

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3', the separating. chamber includes two rotary condenser's'22 and 24, each comprising a perforated sheet metal cylinder 26 mounted at its ends on spiders 28 and'iiflfl'lhe perforations in the cylinder 26 may be flg' holes spaced approximately apart; 1

As shown in Fig. 4, the spider is provided with a hub 32 mounted to rotateon a bushing 34, through which passes the condenser'dr'iveshaft 36. The spider 30 has a hub 38 secured to the shaft 36 by a set screw or other suitable means.

Within each condenser is a bafile 40 of substantially semi-cylindrical form mounted on spiders 42 and. The spider 42 is provided With-a hub 46 integral with the bushing 34,. and the spider 44 has a hub 48 adjacent the hub 38 of the condenser. The assembly is journaled in bearings 50 and 52 which are supported by spokes 54 secured to fianged mounting rings 56 secured between the casing of the separator chamber and-'theoutlet casings l2 and 14. The bearing 50 receives='one end of the bushing 34 and is secured'thereto in adjusted position by a set screw 58. Thisconstruction allows the baffle 40 to be'maintained in any desired fixed position while the'condensef-is continuously rotated by the shaft 36. Each ballle should be as close as possible to the internalicondenser surface, although a considerable spacing is indicated in Fig. 3 to avoid confusion in the drawings.

The condensers 22 and 24 are similar-in construction and are provided with similar baflles. As shown in Fig. 3, the condensers rotate in opposite directions and are separated-by a mall gap. The bafiies are preferably adjusted tothe-position shown in Fig. 3, so that they bafilethe lower half means. v s

Below the condensers, the-casing is with a rotating depositonflserving as an air lock.

The depositor comprises end members .62.:con-

nected by walls 64 of incomplete cylindrical form, whereby openings ,66 and. 68 are left at'the top and bottom of the device. The end members are provided with flanges 10 extending inwardly into the" openings '66 and Q8.- lA s ha ft,l2 is suitably lq 'l a sdin gend member 5.2.

the rotary depositor.

the open top. 66.

inder, 7 prevent engagement with the other condenser,

The shaft carries a rotating assembly comprising a series of radial vanes 14, forming a series of sectorial'pockets 15. Each vane is provided with a blade 16 pressed by a compression spring 18 into engagement with the cylindrical walls 64 or the flanges ID of the depositor. The vane assembly may be rotated in either direction, indicated as clockwise in Fig. 3.

The parts are driven by a suitable belt connection to a pulley 80 on the shaft 36 of one of the condensers, and the other condenser is driven therefrom by spur gearing 82. The shaft 12 is driven from the shaft 36 by a sprocket chain connection indicated at 84. I

As shown in Fig. 3, two metal guides 86 are attached to the cylindrical walls 64 of the depositor and extend outwardly to the side walls of the separating chamber. These guides incline downwardly from the chamber walls towards the opening 66, and thus serve, to direct fibers into In operation, the current of air-borne fibers enters the separating chamber from the top and thefibers drop on the rotating condensers while the air continues through the condensers into the exhaust ducts. As the condensers rotate, the deposited fibers are retained by the suction on their. outer. surfaces until the fibers reach the point where; the suction is cut off by the bafiles.

This is approximately at the bite of the rotating wheels, as indicated in Fig. 3, so that the fibers are released in a somewhat condensed or compressed form. The fibers then drop into the pockets 1 of the depositor. As the depositor rotates'the fibers are carried to the open bottom 08, from which they are discharged into any suitable receptacle. I

The guides 86 serve to direct into the depositor any fibers that do not enter immediately through accumulation: of fibers in the corners of the separator chamber. It has been found that there is :1 tendency for some fibers to accumulate on one of the 'guides, usually the left hand guide asviewed in; Fig. 3, when the depositor vanes are rotated in a clockwise direction. The reason for thisj accumulation is believed to be that as one of the guide is of no consequence unless the fibers build up to. such an extent that they mat against the rotating condenser. To prevent this,

, the left hand condenser is provided with a row of pins protruding a short distance from the cyl- The pins must be sufiicie'ntly short to but it has been found that pins need be no longer than about 3%". These have been found adequate to prevent-excessive accumulation or metting of fibers between the guide and the condenser; The pins "appear to clear the'gui'de by simply breaking'up the accumulation of fibers, whereby the fibers then slide into the depositor, although some of the fibers may be carried around the condenser by the pins.

In order to permit the apparatus to be set up These guides also prevent the condenser, and arranged in such a position that "(5 they do not strike the pins of the other set. If the vanes are rotated counter-clockwise, the pins on the right hand condenser will serve to clear the right hand guide 86.

The adjustment of the baffies has been mentioned. In cases where the air flow is excessive it is advisable to set the baffles with their inner edges slightly above the horizontal. The baffles do not form a perfect seal'against air flow; hence with excessive air flow, the fibers may be retained on the condensers longer than is necessary to permit them to fall into the depositor. In any case the fibers released from the condensers will drop on the guides 86 if they do not fall directly into the depositor, and will eventually reach the depositor as above described, but it has been found advantageous to adjust the baffles to accord with the existing flow conditions, in order to reduce any tendency of the fibers to accumulate on the guides. 1

It will be observed that the fibers are deposited on the perforated condensers in a flocculent condition and without any swirling or agitation which would be likely to produce twisting or matting of the fibers, The fibers are, in some instances, of considerable length and they tend to twist together under any conditions of turbulence or agitation; These fibers are valuable for reuse only if they are obtained in loose, untwisted condition. After passing from the condensers the fibers simply drop into the air lock, or on the guides from which they slide into the lock without any further agitation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Apparatus for separating textile fibers from an air current comprising a separating chamber, two rotary condensers in the chamber each havmg a perforated cylindrical wall through which the air passes and on which the fibers are deposited, internal stationary baffles for the condensers to release the fibers, curved guides below the condensers, clearing means carried by one of the condensers to prevent accumulation of fibers on the adjacent guide, and air lock means into which the fibers are discharged from the guides to convey the fibers from the chamber to a region of difierent pressure.

2. Apparatus for separating textile fibers from an air current comprising a separating chamtwo rotary condensers in the chamber each havmg a perforated cylindrical wall through which the air passes and on which the fibers are deposited, internal stationary baliles for the condensers to release the fibers, curved guides below the condensers, rotating clearing means to prevent accumulation of fibers on either of the guides, and air lock means into which the fibers are discharged from the guides to convey the fibers from the chamber to a region of different pressure.

3. Apparatus for separating textile fibers from an air current comprising a separating chamwhich the'air passes and on which the fibers are deposited; internal stationary baffles for the condensers to release the fibers, curved guides below the condensers, a'series ofpins carried by one of the condensers to prevent accumulation of fibers on the guide adjacent thereto, and air lock means into which the fibers are discharged from the guides to conveythe fibers from the chamban to aregionof difierent'pressure.

ERNEST CLARK,- 

